Impact of Tropical Storm Helene on Western North Carolina’s Healthcare System
Tropical Storm Helene had a significant impact on western North Carolina, affecting the region’s hospitals and clinics in the aftermath of the storm. New studies reveal that many pregnant individuals and those dealing with anxiety and other health concerns sought emergency care when primary care facilities were closed.
This sudden increase in patients put added strain on hospitals and clinics that were already facing issues like power outages and staffing shortages.
Dr. Mark McNeill, a primary care physician and founder of Asheville’s Trillium Family Medicine, witnessed these challenges firsthand. “After the roads reopened, I rushed to Winston-Salem to get back to work. My inbox was full of patients needing medications and primary care,” he noted.
Research conducted by Jen Runkle from NC State University and Maggie Sugg from Appalachian State University highlights the surge in emergency department visits following Helene, particularly among older adults.
Who Turned to the Emergency Room After Helene?
Sugg and her team examined the impact on 19 western counties most affected by the storm. They compared the period immediately after landfall with the same timeframe the following year, using data from nearly 130 emergency departments statewide.
“We saw a noticeable rise in emergency visits from individuals aged 65 and older,” Sugg shared. A surprising trend was the increase in alcohol-related visits among this age group. Sugg suggested that limited access to usual medications, like painkillers, may have caused some to turn to alcohol for relief, prompting further investigation.
Her research also identified a continued rise in alcohol- and anxiety-related visits across western North Carolina, especially in counties with larger senior populations. Conversely, areas with higher uninsured and Medicaid patients showed lower emergency usage, indicating serious access issues.
Many residents in the poorest and hardest-hit counties might have gone without necessary care altogether.
Increase in Emergency Visits Post-Helene
Runkle’s analysis mirrored Sugg’s findings, focusing on the disruptions in primary care and their effects on emergency room visits. In the three months following Helene, there was a notable increase in visits for conditions typically managed in primary care settings. Adult visits related to preventable issues rose by 7%, while youth visits increased by 12%, amounting to approximately 3,000 extra emergency department trips and over $20 million in additional costs. Notably, anxiety-related visits for adults surged by 25% and by 14% for children.
Runkle also looked into maternal health, emphasizing the challenges women face during pregnancy and the year following childbirth. She found that visits related to mood and anxiety increased during these critical periods, yielding significant additional costs.
A Fragile Healthcare System
The combined research from Runkle and Sugg, along with insights from McNeill, sheds light on the vulnerability of western North Carolina’s healthcare system. “Helene exposed how fragile our health care safety net can be when primary care is unavailable,” McNeill explained.
He described his efforts to reopen his practice, utilizing a small generator for essential services and relying on community support. Despite the setbacks, he managed to keep his practice afloat thanks to diversified income streams, including value-based payments that arrived in November.
Preparing for Future Storms
As researchers continue to assess the long-term effects of Helene, healthcare professionals are considering what needs to change before the next disaster strikes. Governor Josh Stein has proposed additional funding to improve infrastructure to support health services during emergencies, though concerns remain about the lack of support specifically aimed at primary care and mental health access.
Sugg emphasizes the importance of investing in mental and behavioral health, especially for vulnerable populations. “What we see is just the tip of the iceberg. Many still had needs but couldn’t access care,” she said.
McNeill believes that insurers must continue to support telehealth services in future emergencies to provide care when traditional methods fail.
Runkle’s analysis serves as a reminder of how essential it is to view social infrastructure, including clinics and telehealth solutions, as critical components of recovery. “We’re still in recovery, and it takes years to build up these services,” she said, stressing the need for immediate action to bolster support for mental health, particularly for pregnant individuals and children.
